Outcomes of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty for pediatric renovascular hypertension: a 12-year retrospective single-center experience

BACKGROUND: Renovascular disease underlies 5–10% of all childhood hypertension. We evaluated the long-term outcomes of percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) for pediatric renovascular hypertension (RVH). METHODS: Data from 37 children with RVH who underwent PTRA of 45 lesions at our center from January 2010 to January 2022 were retrospectively evaluated. Postoperative blood pressure (BP), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), affected kidney size, restenosis, and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean age, weight, and height of patients at first PTRA was 11.51±4.57 (range, 3–17) years, 45.37±22.29 (range, 13.40–106.00) kg, and 1.46±0.26 (range, 0.92–1.85) m, respectively. Technical success was achieved in 33 of 37 (89.2%) patients and 40 of 45 (88.9%) lesions, without surgery-related complications. At a median of 7.5 (range, 3–14) months, restenosis occurred in 6 (16.7%) patients and 7 (16.3%) lesions (all ostial and 6 with a length >15 mm), yielding a clinical beneficial rate from first PTRA of 83.3%. At 18- and 20-month follow-up the mean kidney length (29 kidneys) increased from 8.89±1.55 to 9.79±1.51 cm (P<0.001) and mean GFR (34 kidneys) from 32.28±19.22 to 41.24±13.24 mL/min (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective analysis, PTRA for the treatment of pediatric RVH can achieve satisfactory results. Angioplasty was associated with improved BP control and long-term preservation of renal function, as reflected by an increase in affected kidney size and a higher GFR.